80% of institutions welfare budget goes to haredim - report

"Ma'ariv": Public institutions that care for the elderly, handicapped, battered wives, and abused children received just 20% of the Social Affairs Ministry's budget.

Hebrew daily "Ma'ariv" cites an internal Ministry of Social Affairs report that 80% of its budget for public institutions goes to haredi (ultra-orthodox) institutions, such as yeshivas of various kinds: NIS 64.2 million out of NIS 81 million.

Institutions of Belz Hassidim received NIS 708,000, institutions of Beer Avraham received NIS 863,000, the Kol Torah Yeshiva received NIS 872,000, and the Yeshiva Karlin Stolin in Bnei Brak received more than NIS 1 million.

The Ministry of Social Services said in response, "The transfer of support funds to public institutions is based on equal and uniform criteria, which are publicly available ('support tests'). Applications for support submitted to the ministry are reviewed in an equal and uniform. The support tests are not directed to religious or secular institutions, and any organization that considers itself worthy may apply for support for issues published. If an organization meets all the criteria, the support committee will find it eligible for support."

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